“A smart lock saves you the time and hassle of having to provide access in an emergency situation if you aren’t home, and also prevents you from being locked out—even if you don’t have your phone, anyone with the application synced to your lock can let you in,” says Chicago real estate developer and broker Bill Samuel of Blue Ladder Development. We researched dozens of door locks in a variety of styles and evaluated them based on durability, security, ease of use, and value. Our overall winner for a deadbolt lock is the Medeco Maxum 11TR503-19 for its highly protective design that resists all types of threats. Meanwhile, our top pick for a keypad lock is the Schlage Camelot Electronic Keypad for being easy and convenient for most people to use. Both have Grade 1 ratings from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which is the gold standard for residential safety products. Here are the best door locks, backed by our research. It comes with a steel strike plate with long screws that get secured into the frame, and the bolt is made of hardened steel that the company says is “virtually impossible” to saw through using a hacksaw. Even the screws are steel, offering additional protection, as do hardened inserts within the lock that discourage drilling attempts. The deadbolt lock is popular in the satin nickel finish and is sometimes available in others such as brass and bronze. Price at time of publish: $195 The keypad is backlit, so it’s easy to see even in the dark, and the numbers are etched on silicone so they won’t rub off after being exposed to snow and rain. The lock runs on a 9-volt battery, and there’s an indicator to let you know when it’s getting low. Changing the battery is tricky, but it shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes. Installation is easy, since you only need a Phillips head screwdriver, but you can call a locksmith if that’s more comfortable for you. Overall, this earned a spot as a top pick for its convenience, ease of use, and high ANSI security rating. Price at time of publish: $128 The Wi-Fi bridge is tricky to set up properly, and you may need to move your router closer to the door for it to work. The auto-open feature also doesn’t always work smoothly. Still, there’s a low-battery indicator, and once you see it, you still have 1,000 more times to open the lock before it loses power. In a pinch, you can recharge it from the outside by using a micro-USB cable, although you might not be carrying one each time you leave home. If you have any problems with your lock, you can contact Ultraloq’s customer service. Overall, this is a convenient deadbolt that’s easy to install on exterior and interior doors around your home. Price at time of publish: $219 The lock’s app, which can work with face or fingerprint identification if desired, has many convenient features. These include remote lock and unlock, the ability to grant temporary guest access, and “DoorSense,” which uses geo-fencing to determine your arrival and unlocks the door as you approach. You can also set it to auto-lock either after you enter or within a set period of time (up to 30 minutes). If you tend to have visitors who are less comfortable with technology, August also sells a separate numeric keypad. In a pinch, you can still use your original keys, too. At over $200, it is on the more expensive side, but it’s worth it for its ease of installation and use. Price at time of publish: $229 Kwikset designs its locks to withstand potential intruders, thanks to steel balls placed in front of the key face to resist drilling and a side-locking bar rather than the typical pin tumbler, which is more susceptible to bumping. The set is covered by a lifetime warranty, and the company has an excellent customer service team. The lock can be installed on either the right or left side of a door, but note that for the right side, you’ll need to purchase a special tool to reverse the orientation. (Otherwise, you’ll be putting keys in with their teeth pointing down.) That can make installation difficult, but the process should still come together quickly. Price at time of publish: $50 This lock installs in minutes by swapping out your existing deadbolt (only a screwdriver is needed) and fits in a 54-millimeter hole. You can create up to 25 different numeric PIN codes, and there’s a handy voice assistant to walk you through the process. Although this version isn’t equipped with WiFi or any smart capabilities, Yale sells additional modules if you decide you need an upgrade. Price at time of publish: $179 This lock comes in eight different finishes—such as antique brass, satin nickel, and aged bronze—so you can match your existing locks. It is easy to install by yourself and has solid construction. However, the included screws are sometimes too long, so you may need to purchase the correct size at your local hardware store. Still, at under $50, this is also a reliable and affordable pick for those on a budget. Keep in mind that it has the traditional look of the deadbolt, which doesn’t appeal to everyone. Price at time of publish: $48 This plate includes basic screws that aren’t the best quality, so we recommend purchasing more durable screws from your local hardware store. For maximum security, you should install it by using heavy-duty screws at least 2 inches long. There are also 4 screw holes for added reinforcement, whereas many strike plates that come with locks only have two. Price at time of publish: $16
ANSI Grade
Make sure your lock has an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) grade before you install it. Grade 3 locks, which are common for residential homes, are not are secure as grade 2 or grade 1 locks. If you are concerned about security, choosing a grade 1 or 2 lock may help put your mind at ease.
Key Control
Some locks give homeowners the ability to create new keys themselves through a quick and easy process using a proprietary master key that comes with the original lock. That can be useful if you have kids who are always losing their keys or if you’re a landlord who needs to rekey locks when tenants move in and out.
Strike Plate
A strike plate (also called a “box plate” or a “door strike”) is a piece of metal that attaches to the door frame and keeps things secure by giving the latch or bolt a place to rest. Many locks come with their own strike plates, but they are often too short or not sturdy enough. Adding your own heavy-duty strike plate is a nice way to fortify an existing lock and make it less vulnerable to kick-ins. Look for one that’s about 4 inches high, with 4 screw holes. The screws themselves should be heavy-duty metal and at least 2 inches long.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Lexi Dwyer has been contributing to The Spruce since 2019. For this round-up, she aimed to include a mix of different lock styles and price points and judged them based on perceived durability, security, ease of use, and value. For additional insight, she consulted Chicago real estate developer and broker Bill Samuel of Blue Ladder Development, Glen Bhimani, CEO and founder of BPS Security, a security firm in San Antonio, Texas, and Joshua Haley, founder of Moving Astute, a nationwide relocation service.
